White House Announces Plan to Enhance Transparency Over Nursing Home Ownership
By Joseph Choi
A new proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would require nursing homes to disclose additional information about their ownership and management. The proposed rule includes definitions of "private equity" and "real estate investment trust" to help determine whether a nursing home is owned by one of those entities and would require nursing homes enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid to provide information on "individuals or entities that provide administrative services or clinical consulting." HHS cited research that found more preventable emergency department visits and hospitalizations were reported at private-equity-owned nursing homes compared to facilities not associated with private-equity firms. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Principal Deputy Administrator Jonathan Blum said, "What is absolutely true is that we see more risks, that we see more harm when nursing homes change ownership. They can change owners to companies that don't have experience – that don't have the knowledge, the staff, the experience to ensure high quality care."
Read more on The Hill.